Category: Estate Planning

When it comes to long term care planning, it’s easy to become overwhelmed by so much information coming to you from many different sources. Sometimes you discover that your assumptions about something are way out in left field. It can be like that with Medicaid. Whether you receive Medicaid or not, you...

As the Baby Boomer generation continues to approach retirement age, more Americans may soon find themselves caring for their elderly parents.  According to MetLife, who provides a wide range of insurance options, over 10 million adult children over 50 are caring for an elderly parent.  This figure is expected to grow in the coming...

Your aging loved one has worked hard all her life, and now she wants to get her affairs in order so she can relax and enjoy her retirement, knowing her modest assets will go to her loved ones someday. She pays thousands of dollars for a beautifully packaged living trust, which she proudly places...

How do I start the probate process after my loved one died?

The death of a loved one, no matter the circumstances, is a sad event.  In the wake of your loved one’s death, you may feel lost and confused as to the necessary next steps.  This can make an already tragic time all the...

If you are considering your options for medical coverage in California, you may be looking at Medi-Cal and Covered California. In some cases, it may be in your best interests to talk with a Medi-Cal planning attorney before you start the process. To help you in your decision, here are the...

Americans have used “offshore” or foreign asset protection trusts for decades as a vehicle to shield their wealth from creditors. Courts have invalidated offshore APTs by applying American law to these assets. That invalidation, combined with the expense of setting up offshore accounts and the risk that the entrusted foreign entity would...

How can I protect my assets after my death?

Philip Seymour Hoffman was a celebrated actor who starred in such famous movies as The Hunger Games and Charlie Wilson’s War.  Hoffman’s talent on the big screen did not, however, equate to skill in estate planning.  Hoffman passed away in 2014 and was survived...

Both aging parents and their adult children are often reluctant to talk about the parents’ finances. The parents may feel money is a taboo topic, particularly with one’s children. The adult children do not want to be considered greedy or intrusive. So many people procrastinate until it is too late.

But it...

What might happen if I fail to update my beneficiary designations on my life insurance policies, bank accounts, and more?

While most of us put off estate planning, failing to take some basic steps towards preparing for your eventual death could come at a significant cost for your...

How could the Spousal Fiduciary Duty impact estate planning in California?

When you say “I do” in California, you not only dedicate yourself to your spouse in sickness and in health, but you also become bound by the Spousal Fiduciary Duty.  In California, the law imposes a legal duty...